SNP adviser who queried independence says his quotes were weaponised

Mark Blyth warned that taking Scotland out of the UK would be the ‘biggest Brexit of all time’
Neil Pooran,
Kieran Andrews
The Times
The SNP has often pointed to Brexit as a reason Scotland would be economically better off leaving the UK and rejoining the EU
The SNP has often pointed to Brexit as a reason Scotland would be economically better off leaving the UK and rejoining the EU
PETER SUMMERS/GETTY IMAGES
Neil Pooran,
Kieran Andrews
The Times

A former adviser to Nicola Sturgeon has vowed never again to discuss Scottish economics after his remarks were “weaponised” into a “wholesale attack on independence”.

Mark Blyth, an international economics professor at Brown University in the US who was appointed to the Advisory Council for Economic Transformation, was criticised after warning that independence would be the “biggest Brexit of all time”.

Speaking at a pro-independence event called Scotonomics, he had renewed his criticism of SNP claims that a new Scottish state would emulate Nordic countries. “I fully understand the desire to be separate, but the idea that this isn’t gonna hurt — ooft,” he said.

Mark Blyth questioned how Scotland could be compared to successful Scandinavian countries
Mark Blyth questioned how Scotland could be compared to successful Scandinavian countries
GETTY IMAGES

“You can’t really say that Brexit is the worst thing ever then commit the biggest Brexit of all time. Which